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Re: Should ALL laws sunset after 10 years?

The idea that a law comes up for review every ten years is so utterly ridiculous if one for one key factor - TIME. Congress or no state legislature has the time to properly do this. Its just fantasy.

Most Congressmen spend half their time running for re-election. Reviewing previously passed laws would be a better use of their time. Repealing even a bad law is a difficult undertaking. Considering that many laws have unanticipated consequences not having a review mechanism seems to me to be a defect in the system.

Re: Should ALL laws sunset after 10 years?

Originally Posted by AmericanSpartan

I was looking at the astounding number of federal laws passed every single year, and it occurred to me: part of the problem is that elected officials feel the need to "do something". With millions of laws on the books, all they can do is make more and more laws, which further and further stifle us as a country.

I propose that all laws not specifically enumerated in The Constitution expire after 10 years.

This would give us

A) something for the politicians to "do" without thinking of new crap to tie us up with
B) it would mean "bad" law doesn't last for decades (NFA Act '37 for example)
C) It would mean law more closely matches the current political makeup. No ramming something through in the dead of the night which is still there years later, even though it was passed through deceit and legislative maneuvering ala ObamaCare, Social Security etc....

And you think the chaos in Congress is bad now?? They can't even handle passing a few laws. Imagine them trying to update every single law every ten years??? That would be crazy. All hell will break loose. The system would stop working and anarchy would ensue.. Or maybe that's what you want eh?

Re: Should ALL laws sunset after 10 years?

Originally Posted by haymarket

Was incorrect since it fails to take in the very real world problem that even in a full time legislature or Congress - there is simply NOT the time to review 10% of all past laws each year. Its just an impossible dream that has no relationship to the reality of what happens in a legislature.

No. You completely missed my point. Go back and read, very carefully, what I wrote.

Right now, they have TOO MUCH time because they keep passing TOO MANY laws that are questionable and unnecessary at best, and borderline insidious at worst. Having less time to deal with all the laws might actually be a good thing because then many of the questionable laws would fall off the books through attrition. Once that happened, the time/law ratio would balance out and your concern would fade away.

You make the mistake of presuming all laws are good laws and thus should be dealt with and renewed (in such a scenario).

Roy L. Fuchs: I'll tell you something. This country is going to the dogs.
You know, it used to be when you bought a politician, that son of a bitch stayed bought.

Re: Should ALL laws sunset after 10 years?

most of the laws being passed federally are nothing more than crap by people pretending they are doing something useful

what we really need are judges that actually start enforcing the tenth amendment

Np doubt with with Republicans firmly in control of majorities in both houses of Congress your statement may well prove prophetic.

__________________________________________________ _
There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.... John Rogers

Re: Should ALL laws sunset after 10 years?

If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery I guess I should be bowled over by your post.

__________________________________________________ _
There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.... John Rogers

Re: Should ALL laws sunset after 10 years?

Originally Posted by Gaius46

Most Congressmen spend half their time running for re-election. Reviewing previously passed laws would be a better use of their time. Repealing even a bad law is a difficult undertaking. Considering that many laws have unanticipated consequences not having a review mechanism seems to me to be a defect in the system.

I spent 33 years teaching. I try to no longer post in education threads because I got sick and tired of being sick and tired trying to argue with people who had no idea what they were talking about as they did not have any real experience with that issue.

This reminds me of that.

__________________________________________________ _
There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.... John Rogers

Re: Should ALL laws sunset after 10 years?

Originally Posted by radcen

No. You completely missed my point. Go back and read, very carefully, what I wrote.

Right now, they have TOO MUCH time because they keep passing TOO MANY laws that are questionable and unnecessary at best, and borderline insidious at worst. Having less time to deal with all the laws might actually be a good thing because then many of the questionable laws would fall off the books through attrition. Once that happened, the time/law ratio would balance out and your concern would fade away.

You make the mistake of presuming all laws are good laws and thus should be dealt with and renewed (in such a scenario).

I said no such thing that all laws are good laws. No such thing. I simply provided reality in the observation that there is simply no time available for a legislator to review 10% of ALL the laws ever passed each term in addition to their normal and usual duties of office.

I spent 33 years teaching. I try to no longer post in education threads because I got sick and tired of being sick and tired trying to argue with people who had no idea what they were talking about as they did not have any real experience with that issue.

This reminds me of that.

__________________________________________________ _
There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.... John Rogers

Re: Should ALL laws sunset after 10 years?

Originally Posted by haymarket

I said no such thing that all laws are good laws. No such thing. I simply provided reality in the observation that there is simply no time available for a legislator to review 10% of ALL the laws ever passed each term in addition to their normal and usual duties of office.

If legislators made reviewing old laws a priority they would make the time.

Re: Should ALL laws sunset after 10 years?

If legislators made reviewing old laws a priority they would make the time.

Perhaps they could pass a law giving legislators 36 hours a day and that would provide the extra time?

I spent 33 years teaching. I try to no longer post in education threads because I got sick and tired of being sick and tired trying to argue with people who had no idea what they were talking about as they did not have any real experience with that issue.

This reminds me of that.

__________________________________________________ _
There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.... John Rogers

Re: Should ALL laws sunset after 10 years?

Perhaps they could pass a law giving legislators 36 hours a day and that would provide the extra time?

They don't need a 36 hour day they just need to make it a priority, as I already said. See... even a reasonable answer prompts your to post ad hominems. Pavlovian.

Originally Posted by haymarket

PI spent 33 years teaching. I try to no longer post in education threads because I got sick and tired of being sick and tired trying to argue with people who had no idea what they were talking about as they did not have any real experience with that issue.